Registering mechanism for printing-machines



(No Model.)

' 8 Sheets-Sheet 1. R. MIEHLE.

NNGISTNNING MNGHANISM PON PRINTING MACHINES.

Patented May 24, 1887.

l IMIHIII INN N. PETERS. Phola-Lhagriphur. Wanhngwn; 9:(31

(No Model.) 8 sheets-sheet 2.

R. MIBHLE.

RBGISTERING MEGHANISM FR PRINTING MACHINES.' N0. 363,409. Patelltd May 24, 188WL M s 1 l www :3

8 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

R. NIBIILIVI. RBGISIERING MEGHANISM PON PRINTING MACHINES.

y Patented May 24, 1887 Z fare/224.4727

N. Perma Phnwuuwgmphw, wmingwn. n.4:A

` (No Moden f" R. MIEI-ILE.

8 Sheets-Sheet 4.

REGISTERING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES. No. 363,409. Patented May 24, 188?L Imre atar: i

ttnrmeg- 8 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

R. MIEHLE.

IINGIS'IERING MEGIIANISNI PON PRINTING MACHINES.

Patented May 24, 1887.

Wwcsseg w 7M N PETERS. Pnow-Limogmpher. wuhinglon. D. c.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 6.. R. MIEHLE.

RBGISTBRING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

Patented May 24. 1887. m

N, PEYERS. Plwl-Llhugmpher, washington. BJC.

8 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Model.)-

R. MIEHLE.

NBGISTNNING MBGHANISM ION NNINIINII MACHINES.

, kn/Lawn N. PETERS. Phmuthagnpher, washinyun. DIC.

8 Sheets-Sheet 8. y

(No Model.)

R. MIEHLE.

REGISTBRING MEGHANISM Fon 'PRINTING MACHINES.

ted May 24,

9. O .4 o0 6 3 0. N

N. PETERS. PhomLnhogrnphar. washingwn. D. c.

' invention.

y liNITED STATES PATENT @Errea ROBERT MIEIILE, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIs.

REGISTERING MECHANISM FOR PRINTINGIVACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,409. dated ll/Iay 24, 1887.

Application filed January i6, 1885. Serial No. 153,111. (No model.)k

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT MIEIILE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improve- `ments in Printing-Presses, of which the following is a specification, to wit:

rIhis invention relates to printing-presses; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction and arrangement of the registertering devices, whereby a more perfect register is obtained, as hereinafter fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to makeand use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a printing-press embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of my Fig. 4i is an enlarged side View lengthwise of the rock-shaft b2, showing the means for preventing the guides G moving sidewise. Fig. 5 is a side elevation illustrating the raising and lowering of the clampingarms and the opening and closing of the cylinder-grippers, also showing the whole regis tering device thrown back below the feedboard. Fig. 5 is an illustration showing the position of the cylinder-grippers at the time the delivery-grippers are about to draw the sheet from the cylinder. Fig. 5 shows the cylinder-grippers swung entirely open to allow the sheet being delivered. Fig. 5 is atop plan view of parts shown in Figs. 5"and 5B. Fig. 6 is a side elevation illustrating the forward end of the feed-board in its raised position. Fig. 7 is a View of the adjustable guide-arms or gages which register to the feeding of the paper to the cylinder. Fig. Sis asimilar view of one of the spring-actuating clamping or holding arms for detaining -the sheet in position alter being fed till it is seized by the grippers upon the cylinder. Figs. 9 and l0 are similar views illustrating the disengagement of the devices from the cylinder and raising of the feed-guides. Fig. 1l is a side view showing` the groove of the disk which operates the eylinder-grippers, feed-guides, and the arms which engage with the cylinder. Fig. 12 :is a side View of the disk which operates y the clamping-arms and the forward end of the feed-board. Fig. 13 is a side view of thelower rear end of the press; and Fig. lfiis a rear elevation of the same, showing the devices usually used for operating the parts of a press of this character.

I have represented herein what is known as a stopLcylinder press, but do not desire to coniine the invention to a press of this nature.

A represents a press-frame of any desired or suitable form, in which is mounted an impression-cylinder, A', operated by any suit able mechanism, the means herein shown being the well-known crank-movement, but any other may be preferred.

In the operation of these presses the cylinder is stopped during the forward Amotion of theibed to allow the next sheet to be properly fed to a guide or guides set at the proper points, and when it is again time for the cylinder to move forward these guides are lifted out of the Wayas thesheetisseized bythegripping-ngers and drawn into the press to receive the impression. In such cases, while the press was new, it was possible to stop the cylinder at the same eX- act point, thus Obtaining'an accurate feed and register of the sheet; but when the press had been used snfiicient for its mechanism to become slightly worn, the cylinder does not always stop at the same point in relation to the feed-gnides`when placed above the cylinder and having their bearings adjacent to or upon the side frames of the press. This I obviatc as follows:

The impression-cylinder is upon each side at its periphery formed with a small shoulder or projection, a, with which engages an arm connected to the feeding and gaging devices, as will be presently explained. Alever-arm, B, is fulerumed on the press-frame lon each side, which levers extend upward and carry on their upper ends a pair of transverse rockshafts, I) b, on which the guide and clamp arms are placed 5 and the lower end of one of the levers is connected to a vertically-sliding rod, B', upon which is placed a spring, B2,

which tends to hold these levers always in their proper position, while allowing their upper ends to be drawn forward, as. hereinafter described. rlhe levers B are :rmly secured .I OO

y C', the outer end of which lies between two pins, c c', upon the side of the adjacent clamping-arm, as fully shown in Fig. 8. Upon one end of the rock-shaft is secured an arm, C2, connected by a spring, ci, to the arm B, and

Y theend of which lies upon the upper end of a rod, G3, extending downward and connected at y its lower end to an operating disk or cam, C,

upon a driving-shaft', C5, as seen in Fig. 1. This rod is lifted or lowered by the motion of this disk, and in turn lifts the arm 02,01' allows it to fall by the action of its spring. This rocking of the shaft lifts or lowers the clampingarms, `and it will be at once seen that `as these are loose upon the shaft, but engaged with the spring-'arms G, the shaft is allowed to move sufficiently to fully drop -all of the clamps should `they not be set'quite evenly or should the surface beneath them be slightly uneven, those which strike rst being only held the tighter as the shaft moves on to bring down the others, and the spring-arms being free to bend, their outer ends slide freely between the pins c c.

VThe rock-shaft b is upon each end provided with a hanger, d, which are placed loosely thereon, from the underside of which is sus- Apen'ded the forward end of the feed-board D.

This Iprefer to make of metal, as indicated, and provide it with a transverse fold, d', to lgive it'the requisite stiffness without adding 'to'its weight. One ofthe hangers d is'provided with a pin, di, which projects both invs ideand outside of said hanger. The outside portion engages the `lever-arm B to prevent the feed-'board from swinging too far by the spring'q las these arms are th rownbaek, which will be hereinafter described, while the inner portion of A`this 'pin maybe made of sufficient length to allowof the clamping-arms being slipped over and rested upon it-when itis not desired to use them, asis sometimesthe case.

allow ample room for the delivery of ythe fprinted sheet at the topv of the cylinder.

Each end-of the rock-'shaft b is provided withla 'projecting arm, E, which are represented as formed with hooked ends e. These endsrestnormally upon the ends of the cyllinder, andas it revolves they are engaged with theshoulders a of the same, and the whole mechanism moves forward with the cylinder till it stops, and thus always .preserves thesame relative position between the cylinder and guides and feeding devices. On the same rock-shaft are placed the sheetguides G, which consist of arms preferably placedY loosely on the shaft,which has a slight motion independent of them. The armsG are made hollow, and their'outer ends are split longitudinally, as at g, and provided on one side of the base with a set-bolt g', and on the other with a thumb-screw, g", as shown clearly in the drawings. In each hollow arm is placed an eXtension, G', the outer end of which is bent down to gage the point to which the sheet is fed, and the inner end formed with a series of rack-teeth, g3, with which engages an operating-pinion, g", having a thumb-wheel, g5, on` the lhol-low arm. By this arrangement the gage or guide-arm 'is yextended for retracted to the desired point to whichthesheet of paper is to be fed, and the set-bolt g is screwed down till the split end oflhollow arm clamps theextension with friction sufficient to prevent its being accidentallymoved or-'slipping too freely, while the thumb-screw g2 is used to firmly clamp the extension after being,

properly set.V To enable these guides or gages to be adjusted laterally upon their shaft, I form this shaft with alongitudinal groove, b2, of sufficient width, and each ar-m G `is provided with a pin or screw, b3, which projects into said groove, but does not occupy its full width or depth, thus enabling the arms to have-a slight motion independent of the roek- `shaft, as will be clearly shown in Figs. 3, 9,

and 10. On the shaft b', beside each arm G, is placed a collar, G2, secured firmly, but adjustably, by means of a Vset-screw, y, and formed or provided with la small finger, 71, which projects over the, rear end of the arm and engages a short peripheral slot, la-therein, thus preventing any tendency of the guidearm to slip sidewise, while permitting its os- IOO IIO

cillating motion independent ofthe shaft, as

before described. ence to Figs.2 and 4.

The forward end of the feedingboard D-is vprovided with a transverse strip of 'rubber or leather, d4, upon which the clamping-arms C `rest when lowered and clamp the sheet.

This will :be seen by refery This is exactly the reverse ofthe Imode usu 'verseguide, h2, on the under sideof the-feedboard, as in Fig. 3.

To lift the mechanism from contact with the Ipo ' after the impression has been taken:

cylinder at proper intervals, I provide a dog or lever, L, which is pivoted upon an offset of the main frame, and has its rear end connected by a rod, Z, with a cam or disk, C, upon the driving-shaft, before mentioned. rEhe other end of this dog is formed with a shoulder, m, which, in its lowest position, contacts with an arm, m', on the end of the grippershaft M, as in Fig. 1, to lift the gripping-fingers, and also with a point, m2, which, when the dog is lifted, engages a pin, a, in one of the hooked arms E to lift it and with it the guide-arms, Src. as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The grippers are thrown down again in the usual way by springs, which it was not thought necessary to show.

To hold the arms B from being thrown too far back by their springconnection when released from engagement with the cylinder, but at the same time to allow of their being turned back out of the way when desirable, I provide a hand-lever, N, connected to move with these levers, which engages with a lug, a2, on thev press-frame. This stops the back ward spring of the devices at this point; but when,in preparing the press for work, it is necessary to remove the mechanism carried by the arms B,

the hand-lever is simply sprung around the lug a2 and thc whole device swung back out of the way, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5; but to allow the device being thrown back, as just described, the hinged portion of the main feed-board is raised out of the way, as indicated by the arrows and dotted lines in Fie. 5. To arrest the arms E from swinging in a downward direction when the device is thrown back, one of the said arms maybe provided with an extension-lug, as q', as shown in Figs. 9 and l0, which bears against the transverse rods b when the arms E are not supported by the dog L or the lower part of the cylinders periphery.

rlhe practical operation of the mechanisms above described is as follows, beginning at the time the cylinder isjust coming to a stop, In order to more clearly describe the several operations of the various parts, I will ignore the sheet supposed to have just been printed, which is delivered to the front of the press as the cyl inder arrives at its stoppingpoint, as well as the raising oftheguide-rest to prevent smutting asthe sheetis thus delivered. As the cylinder is turned forward to almostits stoppingpoint, the grippers on shaft M are raised by the engagement of the arm m with the point m upon the dog L, which movement continues untilthe cylinder' comes to a stop; but just before the 'cylinder becomes stationary, or before it completes the last eighth 'part ofan i nch ofits movemeut or so thereof, the projections a upon the cylindcrs periphery engage the hooked points c of the arms E. Now, as the cylinder completes its movement it will be seen that the arms B are drawn forward with the same, as well as the guides G and the other connections thereon, as shown in Fig. 5. The feed-guides G are now in their proper position for the feeding ofthe sheet of paper, which operation is performed while the bed is traveling forward to almost the end of its stroke. At about this time the clamping-arms C are allowed to fall and press upon the sheet of paper by the action of the vertical rod GS, which is lowered as the stud z' passes to the lowest part, i', on the face of the disk C, which is shown in Fig. 12. The dog L is now brought into rapid action by the lowering of the vertical rod Z, which is operated by the incline qzof the groove q in the disk C, as shown in Fig. l1. As the rear end of the dog L is being drawn down by the rod Z the forward end is raised out of engagement with the arm m upon the gripper shaft M, which allows the grippers to fall by the action of a spring, (which it was thought unnecessary to show,) the pressure of which tends to hold the sheet rmly against. the cylinder The dog L at this point has a position just between the arm m and the pin u upon the arm E, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the continued motion of the dog L will engage the pin a and lift the hooked arms E, which are iirmly secured upon the rock-shaft b, as well as the feed-guides G, by the engagement of the points of the screws b3 against the side of the groove b2 in the rockshaft b', as shown in Figs.` 9 and 10. It will be seen that the hooked ends e will not allow the arms B to spring back to rest through the connection with hand-leverN against the stoplug a2 on the pressframe until the hooks c have been raised sufliciently by the dog L to clear the projections a on the cylinder, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. It will also be seen that the feedguides G have ample clearance from the edge of the sheet of paperbefore such action of the arms B takes place.

It must not be inferred by the description that the spring Bl forces the arms B back so that the lever N will rest against the stoplug a with any great pressure, which would cause the hooked arms E to be disengaged from the cylinder with difficulty. This is just the reverse in practice, as the spring is just set to overcome the weight of the device from having any tendency to move the lever N away from the stud a2 and at the same time move the device back when disengaged from the cylinder.

Vhile the above operation is taking place the disk c" is also in action upon the friction stud t' with the incline i2, which causes the vertical rod C to raise the arm C2 upon the rock-shaft b, thereby raising the clampingarm C. The sheet is then ready to advance with thecylinder as it is started by the cylinderstarting mechanism to engage with the bed as the same is started upon its backward movement to make the impression. As the sheet is passing arou nd with the cylinder,and 'the grippers are about to pass beneath the guiderests H, as shown in Fig. 5, the disk c* again acts upon the stud z' with the incline i, which causes the vertical rod c to raise the arm C2 still higher so that it will engage and ICO IIO

ifo

force the pin d upon the hangerd upward, as shown in Fig. 6,'whichimparts a slight swinging motion to the same, as well as the guiderests H, and elevates the same sufficiently to not touch the freshly-printed surface of the sheet as it passes beneath the same,which they would doif in .their normal position for arrest ing the feedguides, as the same should press against the surface of the cylinder so that the sheet will lie flat thereon. The disk CG has also come into action at the time the grippers arrive at a point below the guide-rests, so as to cause the dogL to drop to its downward position, which allows the arms Eto fall so that they will engage the projections a upon the cylinder while the same is finishing the last eighth of an inch or so of its movement before comi-ng yto a stop, as heretofore described.

`It will benoticedthat when the hooked arms E are dropped and the guide-rests H are raised, the guides G are also held up by the rests, as the groove b2 in the rock-shaft b allows of an independent movement to the guides G, so that they will not be pressed downward when the shaft is rocked by the llowering of the arms E. The continued motion ofthe cylinder now brings t-he arm minto engagement with the point m on the dog L, which opens the grippers and releases thesheet, lwhich has been grasped .by the delivery-grippers or-other means which may be employed tor-delivering the same upon the receivingytable at the front ofthe cylinder.

In order to allow the sheet being drawn past the eylindergrippers, as just stated, the same must receive a movement, as indicated invFig. 5^ and Fig. 5, so as to allow the sheet upon the grippershaft M, which, by an addi-A tional downward movement ofthe forward end of the dog L,through the cam-disk C,opensthc eylinder-grippers, as shown in Fig. 5B. As the sheet is passing outward with the delivery mechanism, the movement of which is usually very rapid, the attendant is passing the next sheetto be printed forward to the feed-guides, and when the full width of the sheet has passed beneath the guiderests H the same are lowered to their normal position by the lowering of the vertical rod cii through the action of the disk C* as the stud t' passes down the incline it, which allows the hangers d to swing back in their normal position through the action of the spring c2.

It will be seen that as the guiderests H are dropped the feedguides G also drop by their own weight, as the same are loose upon the rock-shaft b. The attendant now adjusts the sheet to the feed-guides ready for the neXt impression, after which theseveral operations of the devices are repeat-ednamely, the lowerr ing of the clamping-arms, the closing of the grippers, 'and the simultaneous raising of the engaging-arms and feed-guides and the raising of the clamping-arms, after which the sheet is printed and delivered past the guide rests without smutting the saine.

It is evident that the arms which carry the guides and attendant devices may be pivoted to swing away from the feed-board, in which case the guide-rests are placed on the main feedboard, as usual. n

As heretofore stated ,the particular construction of the press and its operating devices to which these improvements may be applied is not material; but I have herein shown such of the lower parts of the press as will give a clear idea of one form of machine with which it is contemplated to use my invention. Thus, in Figs. 13 and 14 I have shown aside and an end view, respectively, of such a press. rlhe main driving-shaft w of the press is journaled transversely at `or near its rear end, and is provided with a spur-pinion, w, which drives a gear, 102, on a cranked shaft, w3. Thiscranked shaft is by .a pitman, x, .connected to a spurgear-wheel, x', which is reciprocated longitudinally by its pitman, and /is turned or caused to roll during such movement by en# -gagement with a stationary rack,x2,secured in the lower part of the press-frame.

ciprocation,as will be understood by reference to Fig. 13. ,The cranked shaft w also carries a pair of cams, z z, which act upon suitable stl1ds,z,on a sliding yoke, z2. Thesecams are Veach formed with a concentric portion and a cam portion,which act to hold the yoke .firmly stationary or to project it backward or forward at properintcrvals. The end of this sliding yoke is connected to a lever, o, fulcrumed on the main frame, and having its .upper end formed with teeth o', which engage similar ones, o2, on the cylinder. When these areengaged and the yoke held stationary, thecylinder is stopped and locked thereby, and when the yoke is again moved the rocking .of the lever starts the cylinder and engages it with the rack on the.bed,which revolves it in uniso n. as it moves.

Upon the main driving-shaft w is a worm,t, which engages and drives a worm-wheel, t', on

`the longitudinal shaft G5,whioh by its camsim- IOO IIS

parts theproper motions to the registry devices heretofore described.

As before stated, I do not desire to confine myself to thisconstruction, but will change it as deemed advisable in the practical utilization of my invention.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire .to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a printing-press,the combination,with the impression-cylinder, of feed-guides and their rock-shaft, said rock-shaft having a slight movement imparted to the same along with the cylinder at the time the latter is about to stop to receive the next sheet,substantially as and for'the 'purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the cylinder of-a printing-press, formed or provided with Va shoulder or projection on its periphery, of amovable feed-board, a shaft-from which it is hung, and arms upon said shaft, engaging the cylinder to cause them to move forward together, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with the feed -guides of a printing-press and a rock-shaft upon which they are carried, provided with arms for engaging the cylinder, of the impression-cylinder provided with the usual sheet-grippers, and a dog for engaging these grippers, and devlces, substantially as shown, for operating this dog to first release the grippers, and then dlsengage and lift thc feed-guides,substantiall y as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In aprintingpress, afeed-board provided with a strip of rubber at its forward end, in combination with a paper-clamp resting upon this strip, substantially as and for the purpose Set forth.

6. In aprinting-press,a clamping-arm placed loosely upon a rock-shaft, in combination with a spring-arm secured upon the same shaft and having its end loosely engaged with the clamping-arm, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a printingpress, aroek-shaft provided with guide-arms having a slight motion independent of the shaft, in combination with a movable feed-board provided with projecting guide-rests, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

S. In a printing-press, a guidearni formed in two parts, one of which telescopes within the other and .is formed withracleteeth on its rear end, and a regulating toothed pinion inclosed within the hollow arm, the said arm being provided with aslit, and two set-screws passed through said split arm, whereby one screw is used to control the movement and the other to clamp the parts when set, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In aprinting-press,thc combination,with the impression-cylinder formed or provided with a shoulder or projection on its periphery, of apair of spring-actuated lever-armspivoted on the main frame and carrying apair of rockshafts in their upper ends, a series of clamping-arms on one of said shafts, a feed-board hung upon the other shaft and 4provided with a strip of rubber or similar material, a series of guide-arms secured upon and having a motion independent of this shaft, and a pair of arms connected to said shaft and engaged with or disengaged from the cylinder at intervals, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

l0. In a printing-press, a longitudinallygrooved rock-shaft and a guidearm upon the same, formed with a groove in its pivotal end and provided with a pin engaging the grooved shaft, in combination with a collar adjustably secured upon said shaft and provided with a finger engaging the groovcd guidearm, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a printingpress, the combination, with the impression-cylinder, of a hinged feed board provided with a pin or stop at one end, a rock-shaft carrying the clampingarms and provided with an arm and an actuating-rod connecting this arm with a cam or disk on a driving-shaft, whereby the clamps and feedboard are lifted at proper intervals to avoid the cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. v

l2. In a printing-press, thercombination, with the impression cylinder, of the feedguides, a hinged feed board carrying the guide-rests, and means, substantially as described, for lifting and lowering the feed-board at stated intervals, substantial! y as and for the p urpose set forth.

13. In a printing-press, the combination, with the impression-cylinder formed or provided with a projection or shoulder on its periphery, of a pair of spring-actuated leverarms secured upon a shaft running through the frame and carrying a rocloshaft in their upper ends, guide-arms secured thereon, and arms connected thereto and engaged with or disengaged from the cylinder at intervals, substantially-as and for the purpose set forth.

14. In a printing-press, a pair of lever-arms hinged on thc main frame and carrying the feed-board and feed-guides on their upper ends in unison with the motion of the cylinder, in

IOO

combination with a stop or lug on the side of the press, and a springhandle secured to the lever-arms and engaging the stop, whereby the arms are held in proper position for use, but may be thrown` back to remove the devices when desired, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 1

l5. In a cylinder p1inting-press,the combistopped toreceive the sheets,) the feed-guides, and their rocleshaft, of the said rock-shaft and feed-guideshaving a slight n1ovementimparted to the same by the cylinder at the time the cylinder is about to stop to receive the sheet, and of the said feed-guides receiving a lifting movement out of the way of the sheet by a rocking movement which is imparted to said rock-shaft by a cam to allow the sheet to pass with the cylinder-grippers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT MIEIILE.

nation, with theimpression-cylinder, (which is IIS 

